The Tumwater City Council passed a resolution on Tuesday, March 18, expressing its support of a ballot measure to retain a 0.2% sales tax used for road maintenance projects.
The council endorsed renewing the city’s transportation benefit district, which has been collecting the tax since 2015. Registered voters will take up the issue in the April 22 special eleciton.
If the benefit district is renewed, it would generate around $30 million for the city over the next 10 years, according to Brandon Hicks, the city’s transportation and engineering director.
The council unanimously approved the resolution. Before doing so, most of the members gave individual statements in support of the measure.
Council member Leatta Dahlhoff said the tax has allowed the city to pave more than 100 miles of lanes along roads and sidewalks, and it has allowed the city to leverage around $6 million in grants for bigger projects.
Being a sales tax, Dahlhoff also noted it will be shared by everyone who uses the streets, not just Tumwater residents.
Council member Eileen Swarthout added the city staff had the option of charging a car tab fee for residents, but didn’t pursue that option as it didn’t want to put the burden on just residents.
Meanwhile, Council member Michael Althauser emphasized the importance of the tax to maintain the city’s roads.
“I do not know what we will do if this does not pass. Our roads will fall into disrepair,” Althauser said.
He added had the city and voters not passed the benefit district in the first instance, the long-term cost of delayed maintenance would have cost the city more money.
Mayor Debbie Sullivan gave the last statement to highlight how Tumwater is known for its well-maintained roads.
“One of the things that I always hear is, ‘How do you know if you're in Tumwater or how do you know if you're in Olympia?’ And I say, ‘Just go down Capital Boulevard where the pavement is really nice, that's Tumwater,’” Sullivan said.
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SecondOtter
Why not use existing funds for road maintenance rather than installing yet another unnecessary roundabout? What is it with Tumwater and it's roundabout fever? Witness the newest one being put in in the T intersection at the Walmart/Home depot intersection. IT's a T intersection, for heaven's sakes, not a four way. Not only is it unnecessary, it will also prove unnavigable for semis. It's so small that even a small car will have problems. So IF the truck drivers can negotiate it, their tires will be up on the center part.
As for Sullivan's comment about how 'nice' the pavement is on Capitol, well, what really needs to be said is, "how do you know you're in Tumwater? When you have to go through at least a dozen roundabouts to get from Point A to point B.
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